Jobless Father Skips Meals To Save 7-day-old Son's Life

“We only had a few ten rupee notes with us when we came to Chennai from our village in Kanchipuram for my wife's delivery. I have been going hungry and saving up, but still can’t make the money required for my newborn son’s surgery. The doctors have told me that he will die without it.” - Prabu

Prabu skips meals at the hospital so that Rajalakshmi and the baby don’t go hungry. When Prabu gets food parcels for Rajalakshmi at the hospital, he only gets portions for one person. When Rajalakshmi asks him why he isn't eating, he says that it is because he already had food from the canteen. The truth is that he skips meals and drinks only tea or coffee. He does not have enough money to even eat a full, satisfying meal, let alone save his son from dying of a bad heart.

These parents have been living a nightmare since the 5th month of pregnancy

The newborn baby boy of Rajalakshmi and Prabu has a dangerous heart condition where his blood is not able to get enough oxygen. This is because of an anatomical defect at birth where the vessels that take blood to different sides of his heart are interchanged. Rajalakshmi remembers shivering when she was told that her child’s heart has a defect in the 5th month scan.

Their son looks like a normal baby despite his deadly condition

Sometimes Rajalakshmi has to remind herself every now and then that her son has a bad heart. He has absolutely no symptoms that define the gravity of his condition. Prabu had in fact even consulted with many doctors in his hometown before coming to Chennai. They all said the same thing – that he will not survive without surgery.

“They all told me that the baby will not have any symptoms that reflect his heart condition. The doctors in our village at Kanchipuram had told us clearly that our baby boy would not survive if he was not operated on immediately after birth. We are poor people, but don’t we have the right to be happy as well? ” – Prabu

The couple has left their first child back in the village to try and save their second

Rajalakshmi and Prabu had never been separated from their 2-year-old child Aradhana before this. Now, they had to leave her in the care of a relative in Kanchipuram till they got back from Chennai. The child doesn’t know anything and is constantly waiting for Appa and Amma to come back and take her home.

“Sometimes I ask strangers in the hospital if they can help me. I tell them that I will repay the money at any cost. But Rs 5 lakhs is no joke. I know that despite not touching such a big amount in my life. I have no one to borrow from as people I know are struggling just like me. I hope my son lives until I get the money for his surgery.” - Prabu

How you can help

Prabu used to work in the housekeeping department of a private company in Kancheepuram. He used to earn Rs 8,000 a month without leaves. Now, his life has changed for the worse. He had to quit his job to prepare for his son’s delivery in Chennai. He has been single-handedly taking care of Rajalakshmi and her needs ever since. There are outstanding bills for medicines and other procedures at the hospital that he is not able to clear. The surgery is now a long shot.

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18th July 2018

Dear Supporters,

Thank you for your love and support. This means a lot to us.

It gives us immense pleasure in informing you all that the baby is now recovering. Till now, there have been no side effects and has been advised regular follow-ups so the doctors can observe the baby's recovery closely.

Thank you everyone, once again!

Regards,Gayathri

Dear Supporters,

Thank you for your love and support. This means a lot to us.

It gives us immense pleasure in informing you all that the baby is now recovering. Till now, there have been no side effects and has been advised regular follow-ups so the doctors can observe the baby's recovery closely.

Thank you everyone, once again!

Regards,Gayathri

18th May 2018

Dear Supporters,

Thank you so much for your love and support. This couldn't have been possible without you.

It gives me immense pleasure in informing you all that the baby and the mother are doing well now. They're still hospitalized and the mother is likely to be discharged today (18th May'18).

The baby is yet to get discharged and is currently not on any medication. The doctors will take a call on the further course of action before discharging them both.

Please keep praying for their well-being. Thank you all once again.

Dear Supporters,

Thank you so much for your love and support. This couldn't have been possible without you.

It gives me immense pleasure in informing you all that the baby and the mother are doing well now. They're still hospitalized and the mother is likely to be discharged today (18th May'18).

The baby is yet to get discharged and is currently not on any medication. The doctors will take a call on the further course of action before discharging them both.

Please keep praying for their well-being. Thank you all once again.

6th May 2018

Dear Supporters,

Thank you for the wonderful support and love that you have shown towards Rajalakshmi’s baby. Apologies for the delay in keeping you posted. The baby weighs only 2.2 kgs hence, a very high risk procedure like arterial switch becomes even more difficult.

The baby underwent the surgery 6 days ago and it was a success. Due to this extremely small size and the preoperative condition of the baby, the baby needed to be ventilated 5 days after surgery.

The baby has just came off the ventilator today and the response has been really positive. The baby will continue to be in the intensive care for another 3-4 days until the baby’s health completely stabilises.

Thank you for the wonderful support once again. Please do pray for the baby's health and speedy recover. Will keep you posted.

Regards,Dr Neville Solomon

Dear Supporters,

Thank you for the wonderful support and love that you have shown towards Rajalakshmi’s baby. Apologies for the delay in keeping you posted. The baby weighs only 2.2 kgs hence, a very high risk procedure like arterial switch becomes even more difficult.

The baby underwent the surgery 6 days ago and it was a success. Due to this extremely small size and the preoperative condition of the baby, the baby needed to be ventilated 5 days after surgery.

The baby has just came off the ventilator today and the response has been really positive. The baby will continue to be in the intensive care for another 3-4 days until the baby’s health completely stabilises.

Thank you for the wonderful support once again. Please do pray for the baby's health and speedy recover. Will keep you posted.